#918 Value of Photography (& creative talent) – Three Recent Stories

Posted on March 7, 2013 by admin

Last week I read three stories about the challenges of creative business. See links below.

One is local and all are a bit worrying. They face the realities of photography ten years after the web and digital cameras became mainstream.

Since digital cameras made photography seem more accessible and the web made sourcing photos easier than ever the perceived value of photography has plummeted!

It’s been an interesting challenge to explain the vast difference between the many levels of photos and photo services offered.

And it’s been an even tougher challenge to get people to pay sustainable rates for high quality photography work. Sigh…

Some of the stories:
1. Photographer vs Big Business
Local Ottawa photographer Barbi Cameron of Barabara Ann Studios butted heads with a prominent radio station when they used her photo in a promotion without appropriate licensing. The story went kablooie (over 4000 FB shares in a week!) through social media channels.

The situation is jaw-droppingly bad!

See the post on her Facebook page.
Read another version of the story here.

2. NYC Photo Blogger vs DKNY
On our Facebook page we shared Barbi’s story and one of our readers added this similar (but slightly less bad) story of unlicensed photo usage. Another story of inappropriate photo usage.

3. Writer offered to write for free – Atlantic Magazine
A sad story of the perceived value of another creative outlet. Thanks to veteran photojournalist, Rod MacIvor for sharing this one.

The GOOD News
From what I have seen the pendulum is starting to swing back to where it should be – people are starting to recognize good photography has costs and there is a difference in photos and photo services. Phew.

Fun video – “Pay the Writer”
I have posted this before but it is worth re-posting. Writer, Harlan Ellison discusses the value of his work. Makes me smile! WARNING – some poopy language!

#915 What’s going on in photo? Check out new Photo Facebook Page

Posted on March 1, 2013 by admin

I’ve had a presence on Facebook for a while – it’s been a mix of personal and photo fun.

A short while ago we put up our Photo Facebook page dedicated to photography.

Facebook Photo Page

What will you find there?
All kinds of photo related material – our regular photo tips and little nuggets from the photo world…

Recently posted links to:
• World Press Photo of the Year winning photo
• Photo Tips on: exposure, aperture choice, snowy weather shooting, compositional tips
• Photo News from working photographers
• Interview of Fine Art photog, Louis Helbig’s CBC interview on his Sunken Villages exhibition
• National Geographic Photo of the Day – NYC fun
• Announcements on upcoming photo classes and events
• Photojournalism Pictures of the Year – 2012 National Nominees

Like the page to get alerts for all the fun!

#911 – Really big camera

Posted on February 19, 2013 by admin

Remember last week’s post?:
“We’re starting a new feature on the blog – we’ll be bringing you a fun, recent photo story.”

Well, I’ve been following John Chiara for a while – doing something different: very, very large format photography.

Fun for me. Hopefully for you!

Watch the vid on YouTube

#909 – More Auction Items for the Media & Celebrity Photo Contest Auction & Exhibition

Posted on February 14, 2013 by admin

We’re a week away from the auction and exhibition of the Media and Celebrity photo contest that will raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank.

Ottawa Food Bank fundraiser!

• The celebrity’s photos are being prepared.
• The studio is transforming for the show.
• The public part of the “What I love about Ottawa Gatineau” contest is almost closed (and there’s a race for the most ‘liked’ photo!)

And we have had some great support for the Ottawa Food Bank fundraiser from the community.

A BIG thank-you to the people/business’ below who have donated auction items for the exhibition:
• $50 gift certificate for the Henry’s Photo Store
• Prize Package from Ottawa 67s Hockey Team
• A signed print of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team; gold medal winners
in Vancouver 2010 (donated by Ottawa councillor David Chernushenko)
• A box set of two films: Powerful and Be the Change (donated by Ottawa councillor David Chernushenko.)
• $50 gift certificate from Mountain Equipment Co-op
• $50 of deliciousness from ‘Une Boulangerie dans un Village‘ (aka Old Chelsea Bakery)

A BIG thank-you to the new sponsors who are helping us raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank at the OttGatLove Photo Contest Auction and Exhibition.

Details:
Saturday, February 23rd
Noon to 8:30pm.
Ottawa Studio Works
160 Preston St. (between Gladstone and Somerset)

Auction and “People’s Choice Ballot” runs until 7pm.
Presentation at 8pm.

Oh, and by the way, some of the photos are AMAZING!

MORE details…

Visit the auction and exhibition at Ottawa Studio Works on Saturday February 23rd. Support the Food Bank and meet a celebrity!

#907 – Photo Fun & Links

Posted on February 10, 2013 by admin

We’re starting a new feature on the blog – we’ll be bringing you a fun, recent photo story.

Why?
To get you inspired, trying new things and just keeping your photography fun.

Where do the stories come from?
• We sometimes find them via Facebook. Subscribe to our Facebook Page!
• People feed us links and fun tips
• My own discoveries

London Olympics Photographer – with a twist
This week we feature a very fun story of a London Olympics photographer. Most photographers at the Olympics are using very current, high powered, usually Nikon or Canon cameras.

Our featured photographer this week shot the Olympics using a very modern version of a camera launched in 1912. Photographer David Burnett shot with the modern Graflex Speed Graphic from the 1940s.

Graflex large format camera

Graflex large format camera
The Graflex is probably one of the most successful press cameras ever – it was first sold in 1912 and ceased production in 1973. It’s a very compact, large format, 4×5 press camera. It’s still very available and popular because of its small size and availability.

So Mr Burnett shot the Olympics on a camera that, if you’re fast, could expose a few exposures a minute. That’s far behind the leaders of the equipment pack that shoot 11 frames per second.

How did Burnett’s photos tun out?
See for yourself, but I think they’re brilliant…

#903 Glass Blowing Photo Safari – Review

Posted on January 31, 2013 by admin

This week we ran the Glass Blowing Photo Safari.

It was a welcome warm spot in Ottawa’s cold week! Furnaces and kilns kept us warm as Melody of Flo Glass Blowing heated the place up with glass blowing demonstrations for the group.

Ottawa glass blowing photo safari - © G Larose

The safari was well-received:
“Had a blast taking these shots! Special thanks to Harry to organizes the Best Photo Safaris. I know Harry, ‘Get Closer’.” Cheryl K.

“I had fun and learned a few things, it was a fairly challenging environment.” Gord L.

See more fun photo classes coming up soon.

Ottawa photo class - Glass Blowing

Ottawa Glass Blowing Photo Safari © Gord Larose

Ottawa glass blowing photo safari - © G Larose

Ottawa photo class - Glass Blowing

#902 Top photo tips – update!

Posted on January 30, 2013 by admin

On our Facebook page we offer photo tips a few times a week. They are designed to give you a little inspiration, motivation and incentive to get you shooting and trying new fun!

Below are a few recent tips:
• Photo Tip #100 – Read lots of tips to improve your photography. BUT the best thing you can do to improve your photography is GET OUT THERE AND EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR CAMERA!!

• Photo Tip #99 – Shooting outside for a long time? remember the vapour barrier liners and the extra big outer coat for when you stop to shoot!! More…

• Photo Tip #96 – Keep your sensor clean – set your camera to “clean at start-up.” It won’t be perfect but it helps.

• Photo Tip #94 – Try shooting within 3 feet of your subject. Wide angle lens helps. Try it for a whole day. Be careful out there!

• Photo Tip #92 – Try something that scares you – just a bit.

• Photo Tip #83 – Try something very new and different. It’ll challenge your old ways. That’ll make you a better photographer.

• Photo Tip #81 – Zoom lens for convenience. Prime lens for low light capability.

• Photo Tip #79 – poor weather often makes for the best photos. Bundle up, be safe and se what you can do!

Want to receive more photo tips in your Facebook line-up. Like our Facebook Page!

#901 Why I love Ottawa/Gatineau photo contest update!

Posted on January 28, 2013 by admin

Wow!

The entries are flowing steadily in both the celebrity and public parts of the “Why I love Ottawa/Gatineau” photo contest.

Recap:
Celebrity and Media Contest
We invited celebrity and media to participate in the contest and they have until TODAY to submit their entries.

We’ve already taken in some beauties and can;t wait to see the rest.
Contest sponsors will print and present the photos for an exhibition and silent auction at Ottawa Studio Works on Saturday, February 23rd.

Visit the studio to:
• Donate funds and food to the Ottawa Food Bank
• Bid on the celebrity & media photos – proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank
• meet the celebrities and media at the studio sometime on Saturday

Ottawa Gatineau photo contest entries

Public Contest
We also invited YOU, the public, to share your views of why you love Ottawa Gatineau. The entries are steadily coming in.

You have until February 16th to submit work to the official contest site – www.facebook.com/OttGatLove. The photo with most votes (you can vote everyday!) wins a spot in the celebrity exhibition!! (high res file needed.)

Join the fun!
Enter your photos.
Vote.
Join us for the exhibition and fundraiser for the Ottawa Food Bank!
Follow the fun on Twitter – #OttGatLove

Thanks to our sponsors:
Artopix
Dave Andrews
Ottawa Studio Works
Patrick Gordon Framing

#885 Online Photo Class update

Posted on December 11, 2012 by admin

We’ve launched into December’s online photo course. It’s a tough challenge this month because the parameters are so wide.

It’s a creative rather than technical challenge built around the festivities happening in December.

Online members are asked to interpret their festive fun…

… which is hard. Technical challenges are often easier because I can give recipes for silhouettes, motion, etc. Creative challenges tax a different part of the brain!

The online photo students are up to it, though. They’re good at testing new ideas and trying new things. And their photos show it!

online photo workshop - sIlhouette challenge - © Willa Mason

Other upcoming photo workshops to help you get better pictures are coming up if you like to learn in a live group setting in central Ottawa.

In January we offer the Glass Blowing Photo Safari – it’s a hot assignment in a cold month with enough to challenge beginner and pro!

Ottawa glass blowing photo safari!

Want to figure out the fundamentals? (Ahem… many, many people could use a refresher or intro to the building blocks of photography.) Creative Fundamentals is your ticket to advanced shooting.

Natural Light Portraits comes up in in January, also, with creative and technical tips for better people pictures and an intro to flash.

Are you missing hockey this season? Want an opportunity to shoot pro hockey on the ice the Senators use? Experience shooting a live pro event with our Shooting Pro Hockey Photo Course. Gets you close to the ice and sharpens your skills. A classic workshop.

March Break Photo Camp and Workshop

And we now have a March Break photo camp and program for 8-12 year olds. The week long day camp introduces pre-teens to the world of photography. They get to learn to shoot, admire art in a gallery and see the magic of a photo developing before their eyes in a darkroom!

This spring and summer we’re lucky to have Louise Tanguay back to teach Macro and other courses. Stay tuned for the fun!